Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative Legacy Grant SFY 2016 - SFY 2017
Minnesota’s twelve regional library systems, which encompass more than 350 public libraries in all areas of the state, can benefit from a portion of the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Through State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education, each regional library system is eligible to receive a formula-driven allocation from the annual $2.2 million Minnesota Regional Library System Legacy Grant. Traverse des Sioux Library System (TdS) is a federated regional public library system providing central services located in southcentral Minnesota. TdS serves forty member public libraries in nine counties: Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, TdS and its member libraries present an array of arts, cultural, literary, and Minnesota history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and community organizations. Projects contribute to the cultural vitality of the region and build a lasting legacy.
These amounts are appropriated to the commissioner of education for grants to the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. These funds must be allocated using the formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, with the remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all qualifying systems in an amount proportionate to the number of qualifying system entities in each system. For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying system entity" means a public library, a regional library system, a regional library system headquarters, a county, or an outreach service program. These funds may be used to sponsor programs provided by regional libraries or to provide grants to local arts and cultural heritage programs for programs in partnership with regional libraries. These funds must be distributed in ten equal payments per year. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2017, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2019.
Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 76Total participation/attendance: 12,470Total number of partnerships: 401
These amounts are appropriated to the commissioner of education for grants to the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota. These funds must be allocated using the formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355, subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, with the remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all qualifying systems in an amount proportionate to the number of qualifying system entities in each system. For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying system entity" means a public library, a regional library system, a regional library system headquarters, a county, or an outreach service program. These funds may be used to sponsor programs provided by regional libraries or to provide grants to local arts and cultural heritage programs for programs in partnership with regional libraries. These funds must be distributed in ten equal payments per year. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2017, as grants or contracts in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2019.
Total number of activities, programs, and/or events: 177
Total participation/attendance: 12,533
Total number of partnerships: 347
The Concert in the Park Series is a three-month summer concert series held in German Park in New Ulm. A variety of musical genres performed by local groups perform in the series.
The Porchlights is a four-member Alt Folk band from Mankato, Minnesota, that performed a 75-minute concert in German Park. The group played original music and altered cover songs. This was the first time The Porchlights performed for the concert series.
Bee Balm Fields is a five-member band from Mankato, Minnesota, that played a 60-minute concert in German Park. The group played primarily original music with a few cover songs. The band had never performed in the Concert in the Park series.
The Monday Night Concert in the Park series is an established series that features local musicians. Attendance at these concerts generally exceeds 200 people. By offering music programming in
German Park, the library reached a far broader audience than what would fit in the library's meeting room (capacity 160). Advertising and a program introduction highlighted the library's sponsorship.
Activity Details:
Event Dates, Locations and Attendance at each individual event:
- Monday, June 19 at 7 p.m. - The Porchlights at German Park (Attendance: 300)
- Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m. - Bee Balm Fields at German Park (Attendance: 250)
Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program:
- New Ulm Park & Recreation - scheduling, facility, promotion, marketing, and staff
- KNUJ - promotion, marketing,and staff
- Local businesses and media outlets - publicity
Actual Measurable Program Outcomes
Based on anecdotal responses and observations, a majority of attendees:
- showed their appreciation for folk music by clapping and/or singing.
- Many attendees also purchased CDs from each of the bands.
- shared their positive experience with others:
"I really enjoyed the band."
"I have never heard Bee Balm Fields play and I enjoyed their music."
"I enjoyed the up-tempo songs. They made me want to dance."
- indicated their interest in attending future library programs:
"I hope I can make it to another Concert in the Park soon
The Somali Museum brought a traveling exhibition of traditional Somali artworks. This mobile culture show included three parts:
- Exhibition of 20-30 artifacts from the Somali Museum's permanent collection; including a "petting zoo" selection of objects available to touch and handle.
- Question-and-answer exploration period,during which audiences can discuss and ask Somali Museum staff about individual pieces.
- Lecture about the history, use, and creation of certain artifacts from the exhibition.
Activity Details:
- Event Dates, Times, Location: November 8, 2017, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Peter Senior Center at the St. Peter Community Center
Partner Organization(s):
- St. Peter Senior Center
- St. Peter Recreation Department
- St. Peter Community and Family Education
- East African Luncheon Committee (comprised of members from the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging,Horn of Africa Aid & Rehabilitation Action Network, Minnesota Valley Action Council, City of St. Peter and Nicollet County
Actual Measurable Program Outcomes:
-The attendees of this program were surveyed by observation and post program responses. It was expected that a majority of the attendees indicated that they had learned something about East African culture and history and how that relates to those living in our community. Duetocircumstances beyond our control, the East African Luncheon that we hoped would accompany this event, did not occur. This did not seem to make a difference in the attendance at the Somali Museum and we were very pleased with the result, despite this change.
- The participants were very engaged, and genuinely interested in the topic presented. Comments from the Facebook Event are attached. "lt was very interesting." "Fascinating."